California’s new formula for funding local school districts comes with the requirement of family income documentation. That requirement is creating concern for officials in some large districts.

Districts with a higher percentage of low income and non-English speaking families will get a greater share of school money under the state’s Local Control Funding Formula. Some school officials say developing language-specific forms for some parents will be difficult.

“In order to really truly get input, you probably really need to be able to communicate effectively with those different populations,” says Laura Duzyk is Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the San Diego County Office of Education.

She also says getting the right documentation may be a problem because many poor parents work under the table.The Los Angeles Unified School District has expressed similar concerns.

But many education officials around the state are optimistic after years of education spending cuts.

“There’s additional funding, prop. 30 allows that,” says Dennis Myers with the California School Boards Association. “There’s a new focus on local control while at the same time a renewed focus and a renewed commitment to students who need special assistance.”

Many districts won’t know how much LCFF funding they’ll be getting until at least January.